No state funeral for Mahajan

Did the Congress-NCP regime in Maharashtra set a new precedent when it organised what appeared to be a 'state funeral' for Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Mahajan, who, at the time of his death, held no ministerial position?

Did the Congress-NCP regime in Maharashtra set a new precedent when it organised what appeared to be a 'state funeral' for Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Mahajan, who, at the time of his death, held no ministerial position?

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Not really. It was only a funeral with 'state honours' where the departed leader's body — accompanied by a police band — was draped in the national tricolour and given a gun salute when his son Rahul lit the pyre.

"In such cases, it's entirely the prerogative of the state government, which can simultaneously declare a mourning to honour any of its prominent citizens," explained an official.

But if a 'state funeral' is to be accorded to a person other than the entitled four — President, Vice President, Prime Minister and former presidents — the state will need the Centre's approval. In the event of a state funeral, the army takes over the entire arrangement — from carrying the body to offering gun-salutes.

A national mourning — when the tricolour is made to fly at half-mast and official celebrations and entertainment programmes by public broadcasters cancelled — is observed for the President, PM, VP and former presidents. "But even in this case, the Centre has made exceptions and announced mournings for other leaders," the official said.